the daily musings ... of faith and culture, of life and love, of fun and games, of a song and dance man, who is keeping his day job.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Cautionary Tales

JOSH: I don't think it's unreasonably macho for the White House to be aggressive in preserving democracy.

MANDY: Let me tell you something. Ultimately, it is not the nuts that are the greatest threat to democracy, as history has shown us over, and over, and OVER again. The greatest threat to democracy is the unbridled power of the state over it's citizens, which by the way, that power is always unleashed in the name of preservation.

JOSH: This isn't abstract, Mandy. This isn't a theoretical problem. The FBI says "Come out with your hands up," you come out with your hands up, at which point you are free to avail yourself of the entire justice system.

MANDY: Do you really believe that, or are you just pissed off 'cause I got in the game?

Actor Ron Silver, known for his portrayal of campaign political consultant Bruno Gianelli on NBC's The West Wing, died over the weekend after a long battle with esophageal cancer. He was 62. Silver, who was a political liberal and ardent Democrat for much of his political life, made a dramatic turn to the right in the wake of 9-11..